Illuminate Community Church

I think we all understand that obey is not a welcomed concept today. This four-letter word is rejected by most unless it’s the idea that one would obey only himself. Let’s face it – it’s cool to be rebellious. This is why many of us as teenagers disagreed with authority. I seriously doubt if anyone woke up this morning and said, “God teach me to obey. I pray that my boss would give me lots of thin...

As I was preparing the message this Sunday, I was reminded of a meeting I had several years ago. I was asked to visit someone in the hospital. It was a friend of a friend and someone I did not know; a man in his mid-forties who had terminal cancer. As I entered the room I introduced myself and you know how you get the sense that people don’t want you around? That was me. The atmosphere turned cold...

In 1620, after a treacherous trip, the Pilgrims arrived on the Mayflower from England and dropped anchor near Cape Cod. Not long after their arrival they were greeted by Native Americans who taught them how to grow corn. Their first growing season was a success and in appreciation they invited the Native Americans to join them in a three-day long festival we now know as Thanksgiving. This marks ou...

I grew up saying the pledge of allegiance in elementary school. The word allegiance refers to one’s loyalty. Of course, a Christian’s ultimate loyalty is to Jesus and his example. Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of God through his life, death and resurrection, and God’s people are to be a picture and a taste of that heavenly kingdom. God’s kingdom has not been fully and finally established and won’t...

Psalm 130 is a hidden little gem. I have several commentaries on the Psalms and none of them devote more than a couple of pages to it, but then I was introduced to John Owen's work. The Puritan and vice-chancellor of Oxford wrote a 400 page commentary on these 8 verses! 400 pages and still more can be said. It takes you from the depths to the heights. It is in many ways the gospel found in the Old...

Throughout history philosophers have asked many questions. You've asked them too. What is the meaning of life? Where did I come from? What happens when I die? Is there life after death? How do I get to heaven? Why does evil exist? Why do I struggle to do good? In addition to these "big" questions, the Bible gives much practical advice in areas such as: What do I look for in a mate? How can I have...

Like many Psalms, number 72 is a prayer. It has a specific person in view - the king. It describes the kind of king that rules well by bringing the kingdom of God to earth. Nothing is quicker to divide than politics. Christians do not fit perfectly into a two-party system. Every four years many long-term relationships are tested. Sometimes to the breaking point. These relationships are not at a di...

The words of Psalm 91 are some of the most beautiful words in the Bible.  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2 They have been the source of comfort for God's people for more than 2000 years. They describe God's protection in detail. We see some of the verses...

"Where did the time go?" When I was young I thought a lot about the future, but as I get older I think a lot about the past. Jill and I often say to each other, "Remember when..." Psalm 90 tells us that our lives are ever so brief and it also tells us why. It is the result of God’s just judgment on us. Moses reminds us that we do in fact incur the anger of a just God. But we have the good work of...

Psalm 73 contains the heartfelt and raw emotion of a Godly person who has carefully observed life. It comes from a man named Asaph and he's tormented because the world is influencing him. He is jealous of what other people have. What's worse is that these people don't walk with God and yet they seem so blessed. They're healthy and wealthy, and they don't seem to be struggling with the same problem...

When we hear the word "broken" we don't immediately think of something positive. The word implies that something is not right, needs fixed or is not working. When applied to our hearts it refers to the deepest kind of pain - brokenhearted. Our painful emotions are stirred for reasons that at times seem to have no clear meaning. Have you ever thought that God could be the reason for this? What if o...

Spiritual dryness is a common problem in the church today. Over the last five months many Christians have experienced a disconnect from God. For many this disconnect has not come as a result of personal sin but instead the circumstances of pandemic, social unrest, and politics have formed the perfect storm.  "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?" Psalm 42:5a The...

We all experience failure in one way or another. When put in a spiritual context, it can be very debilitating. But the Bible is clear, failure is not the end, it is the thing that reveals our deep need for God's rescue. Recently I read this from a young person in the church. "I am a terrible Christian. I sin on a daily basis in many more ways than I even realize, failing often. I don’t always give...

I have a confession. I like to watch those shows about missing persons, unsolved murders and crime stuff in general. Not sure why this is but I think it has something to do with the satisfaction of having a mystery solved. So I've seen plenty of courtroom appearances by those who are on trial for their lives. I've tried to imagine what's going through the mind of someone who has just been declared...

Psalm 23 is one of the most recognizable chapters in the entire Bible. You've probably heard it at least a dozen times if you attended Sunday school. It's a go-to for funeral programs and Hobby Lobby has made money selling its' lines on faded pieces of wood. Even those who do not attend church have likely heard this psalm before. When verses and chapters become familiar, we tend to not pay close a...

Over the past four months, the entire world has experienced a happiness drain. One headline after another steals our joy. Many wonder if it's even possible to find lasting happiness anymore. And what does the Bible have to say about this? It says a lot. Jesus gives an entire sermon about being happy. It's called the "Sermon on the Mount." You know the one that says,"Blessed are the..." over and ov...

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." Our current time reminds me of this opening line to Dicken's classic work. Admittedly, it feels more like the worst of times as we look into the future. But we must not forget that the God of history, the present and the future sits on the throne. The question has been asked - What will the future of the church look like? Church online is a...

My friend told me he wanted to know everything Jesus taught. I said it might surprise you to know that one-fourth of the time he spoke about money. He said, "Really? What else did he talk about?" One of the effects of the gospel going deeper into our souls is that it frees our fingers to loosen their grasp on our stuff. Generosity is one of the great evidences of truly being a disciple of Jesus Ch...

There have only been a few times in my life when I've been far away from any city lights. When this happens there is one thing that cannot be ignored. One thing that screams for my attention. So I stare into the night sky filled with stars. It's awesome. The vastness of just that little slice of God's universe is an overwhelming thought. From our position on earth, there is one star perfectly plac...

Last week, we read about Paul's desire in Philippians Chapter 3 to know Christ by stating that He counted all as a loss for the value of knowing Jesus. He stressed that his supreme goal was to have righteousness, which only comes through faith in Jesus. In other words, Paul exchanged his work for the work of Jesus on the cross. He also said he wanted to know the power of His resurrection and to sh...

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith. Philippian...

Last week, we received Paul's exhortation to think of others as more important than ourselves. This could not come at a better time. The injustices we've seen in our country have shaken our silos. God's people must lead the way by searching our own hearts, bearing one another's burdens and bringing the Gospel message of repentance, reconciliation and restoration. Paul reminds us that humility is t...

Memorial Day has reminded us of sacrifice. We are thankful for those who have given their all for the country and people they love. Sacrifice never comes easy and that is why Paul's letter to the Philippians holds what might be the two most challenging verses for fallen humans. What do you think?   Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than your...